It’s a common misconception that hair is “dead.” Have you ever considered how a piece of hair can identify who you are? It holds all your DNA information just as your blood, skin cells, and saliva do. It is deeply connected to the nervous system and can be seen as exteriorized nerves, they are highly evolved feelers or antennae that pick up & transmit information to the brainstem, limbic system, & neocortex.

For this reason, many Indigenous traditions honour hair as sacred, a living extension of our inner world that carries our thoughts, experiences & pasts. Over time, hair builds up energy, memory & stress, which is why we often feel compelled to cut or change it during major life transitions.

Cutting hair can feel emotional or even traumatizing, as we are releasing a part of ourselves. Just like any nervous system activating experience, a new cut often takes time to integrate or “sit right.” Throughout time, people have turned to their hair as a powerful act of alchemy. When done with intention it can mark the end of a chapter & the beginning of a new, offering closure, healing, & renewal.